You\u27ve got mail : Email use in post-dissolutional relationships

This study is an examination of the conscious motives involved with using email communication over face-to-face communication in post-dissolutional communication between former romantic partners. This project also answered specific questions regarding the nature of post-dissolutional communication. Data collected from 173 undergraduate students revealed that the ability to plan messages within an email is a conscious motive of using email communication that is not perceived in face-to-face communication, whereas the ability to save-face and avoid topics are not. Additionally, emoticons are sparingly used in post-dissolutional email communication, yet those participants who reported to use emoticons are also concerned with saving face. Finally, the current study indicated that preventative and corrective facework strategies are used only moderately in post-dissolutional communication of communication. This study examines an emergent aspect of interpersonal communication and gives recommendations for further research